25 comments:

Hi Mario - it must bring the horror of it all home to actually be there ... I am just shocked at how awful the whole situation has been. Thank you for giving us your thoughts ... I used to live in that area a few decades ago. I imagine your thoughts about your daughter's birth - I try not to think what it must have been like ...I didn't see much footage - but it's just so desperate. Sadly there is nothing one can say - thank goodness for the people who helped save lives and those who helped ... all peoples ... I'm sure Whitman's phantom will be with you for a long time - thank you for writing this up for us ... Hilary

I actually had to hunt to find information on this. The coverage in the States is actually pretty minimal and just summed up as 'a fire occurred'. It was forgotten almost as quick as possible with very little outside information. I'm so sorry for everything that is going on over there.

I have not been able to get Grenfell Tower out of my mind. I think those people taking pictures were not necessarily vultures so much as they were trying to process that such a thing could have happened, and to record that it happened, so that it would not be forgotten. It is important for us not to forget what happened there, and why. Thank you for your kindness in volunteering. I wonder what I can do from where I am. I have not come up with any good answers yet, but if you have any, i'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for your response with which I disagree politely but also strongly.

Had it been a demo instead of a fire, I would have agreed with you. Guerrilla photojournalism is needed now, especially with a polarising media. But Grenfell is different. There have been many reports accompanied by footage. We don't need amateur images that will very likely crop up on survivors' social media feed in years to come. We are all interconnected which means that the photo I have just take on my phone now will appear on your Facebook page or your Twitter feed by virtue of you leaving a comment on my blog. Let's think of what these people have just gone through. Let's think of the mental support they will need. And then think of the "trigger" upon seeing images of their trauma five years down the line.

No, I disagree. We don't need people to act as vultures. We need people to put their mobile phones away. Not everything needs to be recorded.

A shame really when one begins to think of all the 'what ifs'. Personally, I didn't know anyone in the tower, but reading all the horrific stories about the incident made me feel like I did. We are all human beings regardless of class or status. The quote below sums it all up nicely.

Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor. -Sholom Aleichem

Probably one shouldn't comment on politics of other countries, but most utterances made by the Tories insult the victims and us readers/listeners. Tragedies like this happen in a society ruled by the Conservatives.

I know what it's like to be severely burnt, thankfully I was saved from death. It could have been worse, it could have been fatal. That's why I cried and still cry for those people in Grenfell Tower. I wish I lived nearer. All I can do is make donations. However, I will not criticise any that were caught up in a sudden and unbelievable situation for, as the biblical saying goes, 'they know not what they do'.

Great that you could help out. Sickening to think of all that occurs because some greedy sobs wanted to save a few bucks. Sadly, people are meaningless when it comes to profits indeed, in most cases at least.

Iam very sorry about all the shit England has been through this year.I dont know what to say.Its like someone has put a bad spell on your England I only hope the surviviours get a new home really quick.

Criminal prosecutions need to arise from this disaster. The contractors, the suppliers, the TMO project managers -- someone needs to be held responsible. Bravo to you for pitching in. I have been very reluctant to get anywhere near that building, even though it's my old neighborhood.

Beautifully written and spot on. Your descriptions of the fire scene were powerful and they reminded of Ground Zero when the towers collapsed--the awful smell and the leaflets searching for missing persons.

Such a beautiful but very sad written post.This reminded me of the time a wildfire blew over and down on my home. With seconds to leave as the fire chased us down the road. We were lucky as our town didn't have one death but over 300 homes were burned to the ground.

About Me

Look well to this day for it is life,
the very best of life. In its brief course lie all the realities and truths of existence, the joy of growth, the splendour of action, the glory of power. For yesterday is but a memory and tomorrow is only a vision. But today if well-lived makes every yesterday a memory of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well therefore to this day.
(Ancient Sanskrit Poem)